•- I don’t care if anyone bans me from writing on public blogs or the dailies. I don’t care if you guys reading this verbally abuse me. For the million time I just want to tell the world that I am not proud to be a Naga. I am no different. I am not out of my mind. I’m just like each one of the million people who call themselves Nagas. The same people who abuse the country, its politicians, corruption etc. Countless times during the day and once a year they chant, ‘Nagalim for Christ’.
I am convinced that Nagas are indiscipline by nature. There is something about the Naga psyche that dislikes authority. Our responses are therefore often like those of a rebellious child. Take the case of using helmets while driving two-wheelers or seat belts while driving cars. The huge resistance to both these life-saving measures is unbelievable.
Nagalim is an increasingly intolerant nation and a people with little concern for the “other”. It shows in so many ways. From the big issues like the growth of tribalism to the little, little ways in which we show our lack of concern for people who are not like “us”. It is “they” who are responsible for every ill-fortune that befalls “us”. The concept of a “Nagalim” still has to take firm root. We are Nagas second. First come tribe, religion, or regional considerations.
We care little for the environment and the wild animals. The air we breathe especially in our cities is highly polluted. It took a wise person to make me aware that while we can stay away from polluted waters or dirty streets, we have little choice but to breathe the air around us. Climate change is not something that is discussed on the cocktail circuit. Most people are more knowledgeable about the game of football.
Time was when the corrupt did not dare look anyone in the eye. Now it is the honest who avert their eyes in the glare of the wealth exuded by the corrupt. Oh poverty! The eradication of poverty, although some progress has taken place, much still remains to be done to improve the lot of the less privileged. We still have millions who live miserable lives, who don’t even have access to clean drinking water or electricity or a roof over their heads or any of the benefits technology has brought.
Part of the reason could lie in the fact that it requires someone who has seen poverty first hand to empathize with the poor. Our leaders and decision-makers seldom qualify on this score. And those that do grow rich so quickly their past are soon forgotten. There is always a struggle for resource utilization – whether a road in the city should be developed first or a water pipeline in a village.
One of the major drivers of economic prosperity has been the high quality of education imparted both at school and college level. It is sad that today neither the teachers nor the taught are given the importance they deserve by society. Teachers and professors in government-run institutions are poorly paid and not motivated. This needs to be reversed and teachers accorded their rightful importance in society.
We are hypocritical. Sadly, we are a two-faced people. We rarely follow the values we profess. We preach one thing and practice the opposite. We curse the West for corrupting our culture and yet would do anything to be able to immigrate to the US. We are known to beat up girls on the grounds of immorality but how moral are we in reality?
I am no different. I hate all the bad things like corruption, tribalism and prejudice. I don’t pretend that I like the nation, like you. I hate the roads filled with dirty water. I hate the filthy politicians. I hate our so called system. I don’t know whether you will agree with me or not. But if you say that you are proud to be Naga. Please share your wisdom and reasons with me. I want to believe in you. And all because I want to think like you and sing along with you “I am proud to be Naga.”
I am convinced that Nagas are indiscipline by nature. There is something about the Naga psyche that dislikes authority. Our responses are therefore often like those of a rebellious child. Take the case of using helmets while driving two-wheelers or seat belts while driving cars. The huge resistance to both these life-saving measures is unbelievable.
Nagalim is an increasingly intolerant nation and a people with little concern for the “other”. It shows in so many ways. From the big issues like the growth of tribalism to the little, little ways in which we show our lack of concern for people who are not like “us”. It is “they” who are responsible for every ill-fortune that befalls “us”. The concept of a “Nagalim” still has to take firm root. We are Nagas second. First come tribe, religion, or regional considerations.
We care little for the environment and the wild animals. The air we breathe especially in our cities is highly polluted. It took a wise person to make me aware that while we can stay away from polluted waters or dirty streets, we have little choice but to breathe the air around us. Climate change is not something that is discussed on the cocktail circuit. Most people are more knowledgeable about the game of football.
Time was when the corrupt did not dare look anyone in the eye. Now it is the honest who avert their eyes in the glare of the wealth exuded by the corrupt. Oh poverty! The eradication of poverty, although some progress has taken place, much still remains to be done to improve the lot of the less privileged. We still have millions who live miserable lives, who don’t even have access to clean drinking water or electricity or a roof over their heads or any of the benefits technology has brought.
Part of the reason could lie in the fact that it requires someone who has seen poverty first hand to empathize with the poor. Our leaders and decision-makers seldom qualify on this score. And those that do grow rich so quickly their past are soon forgotten. There is always a struggle for resource utilization – whether a road in the city should be developed first or a water pipeline in a village.
One of the major drivers of economic prosperity has been the high quality of education imparted both at school and college level. It is sad that today neither the teachers nor the taught are given the importance they deserve by society. Teachers and professors in government-run institutions are poorly paid and not motivated. This needs to be reversed and teachers accorded their rightful importance in society.
We are hypocritical. Sadly, we are a two-faced people. We rarely follow the values we profess. We preach one thing and practice the opposite. We curse the West for corrupting our culture and yet would do anything to be able to immigrate to the US. We are known to beat up girls on the grounds of immorality but how moral are we in reality?
I am no different. I hate all the bad things like corruption, tribalism and prejudice. I don’t pretend that I like the nation, like you. I hate the roads filled with dirty water. I hate the filthy politicians. I hate our so called system. I don’t know whether you will agree with me or not. But if you say that you are proud to be Naga. Please share your wisdom and reasons with me. I want to believe in you. And all because I want to think like you and sing along with you “I am proud to be Naga.”
Puanthanh Gangmei
http://blogcastor.com/i-am-not-proud-to-be-naga/
